Indonesia National Team coach Patrick Kluivert expresses little concern despite numerous diaspora players joining the Garuda squad late for the impending 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Kluivert initially announced a 28-player squad for the fourth round of the 2026 AFC World Cup Qualifiers. However, due to injuries, including one sustained by Emil Audero, Patrick Kluivert subsequently called up two additional goalkeepers, Nadeo Argawinata and Reza Arya. This adjustment brings the total number of players summoned by Kluivert to 29 for the two crucial matches in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
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The Indonesian National Team is scheduled to face Saudi Arabia and Iraq on October 8 and 11, 2025, respectively, with both encounters taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The “Red and White” squad departed for Saudi Arabia on Thursday, October 2, 2025, and held its inaugural training session there on Friday, October 3, 2025.
However, this initial training session did not include the full complement of players. Only those competing in the Super League 2025/2026, along with one diaspora player, participated. Domestic-based talents such as Marc Klok, Rizky Ridho, Stefano Lilipaly, Thom Haye, Beckham Putra, and Egy Maulana were among those present. The sole diaspora player to join early was Ole Romeny, the Oxford United player. His prompt arrival was facilitated by his ongoing recovery from an injury and a period of inactivity with his club, allowing for an earlier integration with the national team.
Following the first training session on Friday evening, October 3, 2025, in Saudi Arabia, Patrick Kluivert conveyed his satisfaction. He specifically noted the high enthusiasm and spirit displayed by Rizky Ridho and the other players during the session. It is important to highlight that this early training mainly comprised domestic-based players and Ole Romeny, as the Indonesian National Team currently boasts 15 overseas-based or diaspora players.
This contingent includes prominent names such as Jay Idzes, Sandy Walsh, Shayne Pattynama, Calvin Verdonk, Kevin Diks, Dean James, Joey Pelupessy, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, and Justin Hubner. However, these players were confirmed to be absent from the initial training in preparation for the matches against Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Reports indicate that some of these diaspora players are expected to join even later.
For instance, Calvin Verdonk has standing commitments with his club, LOSC Lille, which is scheduled to play against PSG on Monday, October 6, 2025. Similarly, Jay Idzes will be in action with Sassuolo Calcio against Verdon on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Kevin Diks also has a fixture with Borussia Monchengladbach on Monday, October 6, 2025. These ongoing club engagements are the primary reason for the staggered arrival of several Indonesian National Team players for their crucial 2026 World Cup Qualifiers preparations.
Patrick Kluivert Immediately Satisfied with Indonesia National Team’s First Training in Saudi Arabia
Addressing this situation, Patrick Kluivert expressed his firm belief that the late-joining players would not encounter any significant difficulties in adapting. The former Barcelona striker is confident that Calvin Verdonk and his fellow overseas professionals will seamlessly integrate into the Garuda squad. Kluivert affirmed that the Indonesian National Team is well-accustomed to such scenarios, ensuring that players will adapt smoothly despite joining the team in phases.
“Yes, I think they will adapt smoothly,” Patrick Kluivert stated in remarks received by BolaSport.com on Saturday, October 4, 2025. “Everyone already knows how we operate because we’ve experienced similar situations before, where players joined gradually.”
The Dutch coach reiterated that he remains unconcerned by the delayed arrival of these diaspora players. He believes that the players are already familiar with the team’s system, which will facilitate their integration upon arrival. Furthermore, many players have been with the squad for an extended period, and there have been no significant changes to the team’s core composition. Therefore, Kluivert is not worried about the players’ condition or their collective chemistry, despite the staggered arrival of the diaspora contingent.
“They will integrate directly into the system, so I’m not worried about how they’ll join,” he concluded.
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Summary
Indonesia National Team coach Patrick Kluivert remains unfazed by the numerous diaspora players joining the squad late for the impending 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The team, comprising 29 players after an injury-related call-up for two additional goalkeepers, commenced its inaugural training session in Jeddah on October 3, 2025. This initial session primarily involved domestic-based players and one early diaspora player, Ole Romeny, due to many overseas professionals having ongoing club commitments.
Kluivert expressed satisfaction with the enthusiasm shown during early training and confidence that the late-joining players will adapt smoothly. He emphasized that the team is accustomed to such scenarios and that players are already familiar with the system. Consequently, Kluivert is unconcerned about potential issues with player condition or team chemistry, anticipating seamless integration for everyone.